APRIL 201 6 805LIVING.COM

Black and white is popular all over—in kitchens, dining rooms, living

areas, bedrooms, and baths. Here, three interior designers tell how they enlist the ultimate in contrast

to dramatic effect, while some of their works and a collection of new home products serve as inspiration.

FROM THE EDITORS OF 805 LIVING

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Amber Interiors brought a fresh, clean look to this

living room with white oak plank flooring and a liberal

use of Dunn-Edwards White paint. Natural accents and charcoal

and indigo textiles give the room a homey feel.

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Why do you think the classic black and white combo is so appealing?It’s high contrast, but also somehow a perfect neutral palette all in one. Everything looks great with black, and everything looks good with white. So the two together look great in almost every application.

Are there any pitfalls to watch for when working with a black and white palette?Yes, try to stay away from adding too many additional primary colors. If you add a bright red or bold orange to a black and white room, you run the risk of making the room feel juvenile.

Why is contrast important?Color of every shade pops when there is black or white behind it or around it. If you’re a color junkie or even gravitate to neutrals only, having black and white as your base will add a lot of visual impact.

Is there a limit to the types of styles that can be manifested in black and white?No! That’s the beauty of black and white. They can be used in any and all styles and genres of interior design.

How are other colors best used within a black and white design?My preference is to use the black and white with more muted tones because the color pops. At the moment my fave combination of colors is black, white, a sandy linen, and deep olive green. It’s a very earthy palette, but the black and white make it feel upscale and important.

Amber Interiors, Calabasasamberinteriordesign.com

AmberLewis

To let more light into this kitchen and dining room,

Amber Interiors designers removed a wall and added a window. A fixture over

the table supplies enough light for the enlarged island,

painted in Dunn-Edwards Jet and accompanied

by vintage stools.

In a powder room at the Amber Interiors Calabasas store, red brick tiles on one

wall got a coat of black paint. Another wall was covered in the company’s own Mali

wallpaper in Noir. Cié Zenith cement tile completes the look on the floor.

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Why do you think the classic black and white combo is so appealing? Because it’s a timeless look that never tires the eye.

Are there any pitfalls to watch for when working with a black and white palette? I always take into consideration both natural and artificial light and avoid the use of too much texture, which gives off a heavy look.

What’s your favorite new element or medium to use in a black and white scheme? Farrow & Ball Off-Black paint color for use on cabinetry and doors and Wimborne White Floor Paint for giving wood floors a clean, fresh, creamy look. I also love the look of a beautiful handmade encaustic black and white cement tile from Cement Tile Shop or a natural stone herringbone pattern from Ann Sacks.

What tried-and-true white and/or black element or medium never gets old? Architectural fragments, stone, wood, shells, and organic elements never grow old.

For a dramatic entrance, Kymberley Fraser finished an oak

staircase in white with ebony treads and railings. Echoing the contrast is a wing chair covered in Sari Mole fabric from Raoul

Textiles. Below: Ann Sacks custom Hacienda concrete bricks set

the tone for a bath decked out with pivoting Industrial Age-

inspired mirrors and lights, both from Restoration Hardware.

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A Beautiful Mess Home, Agoura Hillsabeautifulmesshome.com

KymberleyFraser

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Chair FlairTop row, left: Bloomville “Parsons With Sides” lounge chair ($510); Chandeliers & Tulips, Agoura Hills, chandeliersandtulips.com.

Top row, center: Palecek “Capri” outdoor armchair ($958); The Sofa Guy, Thousand Oaks, thesofaguy.com.

Top row, right: Curated Kravet “Worth” black dining side chair ($750); Designs of the Interior, interiordesignwestlake.com.

Middle row, left: Palecek “Caprice” side chair ($1,594), The Sofa Guy, Thousand Oaks, thesofaguy.com.

Middle row, right: Cane-Line “Breeze’’ lounge chair ($652); Reed Floors & Interiors, Carpinteria, reedfloors.com.

Bottom row, left: Curated Kravet “Mercer” ebony side chair ($2,730); Designs of the Interior, Westlake Village, interiordesignwestlake.com.

Bottom row, right: Henredon “Deveral” chair ($1,374); Mia Dennee’s, Santa Ynez, miadennes.com.

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What word best describes the effect of black and white designs? Graphic.

Are there any pitfalls to watch for when working with a black and white palette?The tricky part is that it can feel cold and stark. The addition of a rich neutral like amber or cognac provides warmth, and mixing in wood furnishings adds an organic counterpoint.

What tried-and-true white and/or black element or medium never gets old? I never tire of black and white artwork. It is so clean and vivid. I love to mix media on an art wall, for instance, hanging a couple black and white photographs with a charcoal life-drawing and an abstract monochromatic painting.

In a kitchen design by Elizabeth Vallino Interiors,

Carrara marble countertops and a mosaic backsplash of Country Floors marble tiles bridge the gap with black

and gray variances, tying in a steely Bertazzoni range from Italy. Walnut barstools and chair backs lend warmth.

Elizabeth Vallino Interiors, Santa Barbaraelizabethvallinointeriors.com

ElizabethVallino

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Pattern PlayJanus et Cie “Inlaid” side table ($822); Cabana Home, Santa Barbara, cabanahome.com.

Bernhardt “Barnesley” dining table ($4,145); Cabana Home, Santa Barbara, cabanahome.com.

Barcelona honed “Fiona,” “Hexagon,” “Batten,” and “Chevron” cement tiles ($12 a square foot), Tileco, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria; tilecodist.com.

Bernhardt “Herringbone” drawer cabinet ($2,630); Alderman Bushé Interiors, Thousand Oaks, aldermanbusheinteriors.com.

Holly Hunt “Aqua Velvet Stripe” ($184 per yard) and “Ecriture” (reversible, $216 per yard) outdoor fabrics from the Great Outdoors collection; Cabana Home, Santa Barbara, cabanahome.com.